YOUTH IN REVOLT (USA 2009) ***
Directed by Miguel Arteta

Miguel Arteta is apparently the director of choice for filming weird people after his success with CHUCK AND BUCK and episodes of FREAKS AND GEEKS and UGLY BETTY. 

The hero of the piece is Godard-loving (several posters of Belmondo hang in his room) virgin, Nick (Michael Cera) who spouts sarcasm as if there is no tomorrow.  His mother (Jean Smart) and dad (Steve Buscemi), not living together are just as odd but lend their support the best they can or cannot.  A misadventure lands mum and Nick in a trailer park where he meets the girl of his dreams.  The rest is teen romantic comedy fare with a black twist. 

But one problem with the film is that everybody speaks in the same manner.  Yes, from son to mother to dad, to mother’s boyfriend and all else, every character in the film seem to have graduated from Sarcasm 101.  The saving grace of YOUTH IN REVOLT is the manifold laugh-out loud moments (example: the mum’s boyfriend in the trashy trailer after their TV dinner saying : What say we let the kid do the dishes and we head for the master bedroom?) and the amazing claymation that accompanies the film in spots.

The result is a quirky comedy of sorts that is at least is funny if not immediately forgettable.